‘Sports essential for holistic development’

Tourism, Culture and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao emphasised the importance of integrating sports into the academic curriculum, stating that physical activities are as crucial as education for the development of students.
Addressing the International Conference on Physical Education and Sports at the Vasavi Engineering College in Ibrahim Bagh, he expressed concern over students distancing themselves from physical education.
“In the past, students actively engaged in sports. However, today, they are burdened with books with no evidence of regular physical activity. Many schools lack playgrounds and physical education teachers are not available. If every citizen has to remain strong and mentally resilient, participation in sports must be encouraged from a young age,” he said.
He stressed that inculcating an interest in sports during student life helps build mental endurance to withstand challenges.
He assured that under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the state government is prioritizing sports and is committed to making Telangana a key hub of the sector.
“The TG government decided to establish the Young India Sports University in Hyderabad to strengthen India’s sports landscape. This will be set up in the Future City (Fourth City) as part of a dedicated Sports Hub,” he said. He added that the university aims to provide training for future Olympic champions.